REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR TOGOLESE OPPOSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 000928 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PRM/A E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2015 TAGS: PREF PHUM TO GH SUBJECT: REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR TOGOLESE OPPOSITION POLITICIAN KOFI OKOUTA REF: 03 STATE 326248 Classified By: POLCHIEF SCOTT TICKNOR FOR REASON 1.4 (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Embassy Accra requests authorization for a refugee referral to the U.S. resettlement program on behalf of Togolese opposition party activist Dr. Kofi Biayewa Okouta and his family of seven, who have taken refuge in Ghana. They have presented credible evidence of persecution based on their political opinion. Okouta spoke of 50 rapes and substantial property damage in his hometown of Atakpame. End summary. ¶2. (C) Post's refugee referral is for Dr. Kofi Biayewa OKOUTA (DPOB: 31DEC1944, Kambole, Togo) who has taken refuge in Ghana with the following seven family members: Spouse: Delphine Modoukpe OKOUTA (DPOB: 31DEC1946, Kambole, Togo) Daughter: Ilenikou Rose OKOUTA (DPOB: 30DEC1970, Kara, Togo) Daughter: Ariyatan OKOUTA (DPOB: 20FEB1972, Kara, Togo) Daughter: Adebola OKOUTA (DPOB: 12MAY1976, Lome, Togo) Son: Sourou OKOUTA (DPOB: 08APR1982, Koumea, Togo) Daughter: Kabinin OKOUTA (DPOB: 06APR1985, Amlame, Togo) Son: Marc Edem Yao NYADJOGBE (DPOB: 25APR2002, Atakpame, Togo). ¶3. (C) Dr. Okouta completed his studies at the University of Lome in 1978, graduating as an M.D. In 1991, he openly joined the opposition political party known as CAR (Comite d'Action pour la Renouveau, or Action Committee for Renewal). One year later, the military bombed his first residence, resulting in his daughter losing a finger and two other non-lethal casualties. During the June 1998 elections, Dr. Okouta was detained for one month because of his involvement in opposition politics. During that time he was beaten and tortured at the Prison Civil de Lome. ¶4. (C) On April 27, 2005, the same day election results were announced, Togolese military entered Dr. Okouta's property without forewarning and set his home ablaze, according to Okouta. The family took refuge with sympathetic neighbors. Two days later, the military torched the medical clinic where Dr. Okouta worked as a general practitioner. With the help of their parish priest, the family drove to Lome, then crossed the border into Ghana at the Akanu crossing point, several miles north of Lome. The family registered with Ghana Immigration and UNHCR, then took refuge at an undisclosed site. We became aware of Dr. Okouta's situation through Embassy Lome, which valued the applicant as a political contact. ¶5. (C) Prospects for local integration are dim. Dr. Okouta would have to repeat years of study in Ghana in order to be recertified to practice medicine in Ghana. Because of this onerous requirement, the Embassy is not aware of any foreigner who has succeeded in obtaining a medical certification in Ghana. Dr. Okouta also believes he would not be safe if he remained here. ¶6. (C) Repatriation is not an option, as the applicant has a well-founded fear of persecution due to his political opinion. Human rights abuses in Togo are well documented in the annual human rights report as well as in recent election-related reporting by Embassy Lome. Dr. Okouta told Refcord that he knew of the rapes of approximately 50 women, some of them underage, and the wholesale destruction of property in his hometown of Atakpame, an opposition stronghold north of Lome with a population of 64,000. Thus, we believe resettlement represents the only appropriate durable solution for this family. ¶7. (C) Comment: Okouta's fears for his safety here appear to us to reflect a certain degree of paranoia. There were several cases years ago of prominent Togolese being murdered in Ghana allegedly by Eyadema agents. In the past few years, however, we are unaware of any Togolese opposition figures in Ghana who have been threatened, kidnapped, or killed. End comment. ¶8. (C) PRM's consideration of this request is greatly appreciated. YATES NNNN